Assault suspect shot by Chelmsford police collapses in court (VIDEO)

LOWELL - A 35-year-old Lowell man who prosecutors say was shot by police as he violently struggled with officers at the scene of an alleged domestic assault Sunday morning collapsed in court before he could be arraigned on Monday.

William Santiago was released from a Boston-area trauma center on Monday, and was scheduled to be arraigned in Lowell District Court on one count of threatening to commit a crime and two counts of assault and battery on a family or household member.

Santiago was standing under guard in the dock as his case was called about 4 p.m., but just as the proceeding was getting started Santiago collapsed, prompting court officers to call an ambulance.

Santiago had been treated for a gunshot wound to the leg and a graze wound to his head, and had a large white bandage on the top of his head when he appeared in court.

Several people who appeared to be family members or friends exclaimed in concern when Santiago fell to the floor. They were on their way to the hospital after the arraignment was postponed and could not immediately comment.

As Santiago was taken to an ambulance behind the court, a judge ruled that he will be held without bail overnight until the arraignment can be completed Tuesday.

Details of the domestic-assault allegations against Santiago were not immediately available, since court records connected to the case do not become a public record until after arraignment.

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Chelmsford police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office have said officers were called to 3 Clover Hill Drive in Chelmsford Sunday about 7:40 a.m., by a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance.

Officers arrived to find Santiago, who prosecutors said is well-known to police, agitated and combative, according to police and prosecutors.

Santiago punched an officer in face, and as additional officers arrived at the scene he armed himself with a large shard of glass and a hammer, according to police and prosecutors.

Officers tried to use physical force and then a Taser to subdue Santiago, but when the Taser failed to control Santiago an officer fired two gunshots, striking Santiago in the leg and grazing his head, according to police and prosecutors.

Santiago was taken by ambulance to a city hospital, and then transferred by medical helicopter to a Boston-area trauma center.

The female victim, whom police have not identified, was also taken to a city hospital where she was treated for injuries allegedly caused by Santiago and then released. Officers who were part of the struggle were also taken to local hospitals for evaluation, though they were said to have only minor injuries.

The officer who fired the gunshot was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Police Chief James Spinney described the officer as a veteran of the department with a 14-year career in law enforcement. He said he will not release any additional personnel information until the DA's investigation is complete.

The domestic assault, and the use of force by police, remain under investigation by the DA's office. Prosecutors have said Santiago is expected face additional charges as the investigation progresses.

Santiago has a history of arrests for breaking and entering in motor vehicles, receiving stolen property, and misdemeanor drug charges, according to court records.

He has also faced domestic charges in Lowell District Court twice before, including for a previous incident that was alleged to have occurred at the 3 Clover Hill Drive home.

In that incident, Santiago was charged on Nov. 27 of last year after he was accused of pushing his 39-year-old ex-girlfriend during an argument and then breaking her television by punching it, according to police reports.

Police reports say that argument began when Santiago wanted to have sex while the ex-girlfriend wanted to go to sleep.
Santiago was charged with assault and battery on a household or family member and malicious destruction of property over $250 in connection with that incident, but the charges were dismissed on Feb. 28 due to lack of prosecution, according to court records.

Another domestic case against Santiago, in which he was accused of pushing the same ex-girlfriend and preventing her from calling police, was also dismissed due to lack of prosecution.

That incident was alleged to have occurred on Jan. 9, 2015 at 28 Montgomery Ave., in Lowell, according to police reports. That case was dismissed on April 7, 2015.

The DA's office said in a press release that Santiago's arraignment is expected to continue on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

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